Rudolf Walter Wanderone, Jr. (January 19, 1913 – January 15, 1996; originally spelled Wanderon) was an American professional pocket billiards player, best known as "Minnesota Fats". As "Fats," in spite of the fact that he never won a major pool tournament, he was perhaps the most publicly recognized pool player in the United States – not only as a player, but also as an entertainer.

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  • 1913-01-19 (xsd:date)
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dbpedia-owl:Person/deathDate
  • 1996-01-15 (xsd:date)
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  • Broadway Fats
  • Chicago Fats
  • Double-Smart
  • Minnesota Fats
  • New York Fats
  • Triple-Smart Fats
dbpedia-owl:birthDate
  • 1913-01-19 (xsd:date)
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  • 1996-01-15 (xsd:date)
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  • Broadway Fats
  • Chicago Fats
  • Double-Smart
  • Minnesota Fats
  • New York Fats
  • Triple-Smart Fats
dbpprop:abstract
  • Rudolf Walter Wanderone, Jr. (January 19, 1913 – January 15, 1996; originally spelled Wanderon) was an American professional pocket billiards player, best known as "Minnesota Fats". As "Fats," in spite of the fact that he never won a major pool tournament, he was perhaps the most publicly recognized pool player in the United States – not only as a player, but also as an entertainer. Wanderone was inducted in 1984 into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame for his decades-long public promotion of pool. Wanderone began playing at a young age in New York City. As a teenager, he became a traveling pool hustler. Later in his 30s, he moved to southern Illinois where he met and married his first wife, Evelyn. During World War II, he hustled servicemen in Norfolk, Virginia. With the end of the war, Wanderone returned to Illinois and entered semi-retirement. Wanderone adopted the nickname "Minnesota Fats" from a character in the 1961 film The Hustler, claiming that the character was based upon him. He parlayed the association with the film into his own book deals and television appearances, including a series of matches with rival Willie Mosconi. Later in life, Wanderone divorced Evelyn and moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he married his second wife, Theresa, with whom he spent the rest of his life.
dbpprop:alternativeNames
  • Wanderon, Rudolf Walter, Jr. (birth name), Minnesota Fats (professional nickname as reported in most media); New York Fats (professional nickname used before period of fame); New York Fatty (professional nickname used before period of fame); Broadway Fats (professional nickname used before period of fame); Chicago Fats (professional nickname used before period of fame); Double-Smart (professional nickname used before period of fame); Triple-Smart Fats (professional nickname used before period of fame); Wanderone, Rudy (name used in private life)
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  • action
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  • January 19, 1913
  • January 19, 1913,
dbpprop:dateOfDeath
  • January 15, 1996
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  • Minnesota Fats
  • the fictional character after whom Wanderone nicknamed himself
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  • Rudolf Wanderone Jr.
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  • Celebrity Billiards
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dbpprop:name
  • Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, Jr.
  • Wanderone, Rudolf Walter, Jr.
dbpprop:nationality
dbpprop:occupation
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  • Minnesota Fats New York Fats Broadway Fats Chicago Fats Double-Smart Triple-Smart Fats
dbpprop:reference
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dbpprop:wikiPageUsesTemplate
rdf:type
rdfs:comment
  • Rudolf Walter Wanderone, Jr. (January 19, 1913 – January 15, 1996; originally spelled Wanderon) was an American professional pocket billiards player, best known as "Minnesota Fats". As "Fats," in spite of the fact that he never won a major pool tournament, he was perhaps the most publicly recognized pool player in the United States – not only as a player, but also as an entertainer.
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  • Rudolf Wanderone
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  • Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, Jr.
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